SpenniesAlbum Review - Foo Fighters, Skin & Bones
March 19th 2007 02:31
Artist: Foo Fighters
Album: Skin and Bones
Firstly, I must apologise for taking so bloody long to put up a review! I have so many new cds at home that I've been listening to, and I haven't gotten around to reviewing any of them. But now I'm going to get my ass into gear and do some reviews!
First up is the 6th offering from the Foo Fighters. Before I go any further, I'm going to say straight up that Foo Fighters are my FAVOURITE band in the whole wide world. So this probably isn't the most unbiased review you'll ever hear (I won't hear a bad word about Dave....I just won't!!!).
Dave Grohl is in possession of the best scream in rock music. How he has a voice left I have no idea, but I'm glad he does. Usually that primal scream is howled out alongside thunderous drumbeats and a wall of guitar sounds. But for their 6th album, Skin & Bones, Grohl and Co decided to record a live album of acoustic reworkings of some of their old tunes. They first attempted to show the bands softer side on Disc 2 of their 2006 album In Your Honour. And while I loved In Your Honour overall, their acoustic disc was a little hit and miss. Some of the songs sounded a little too self conscious, as if they weren't quite comfortable with the idea themselves.
With Skin & Bones, the Foo Fighters have gotten a whole lot more comfortable with their acoustic side.
The album starts out with the song Razor, which was taken from In Your Honour and was my least favourite song on the album. Thankfully, this version is better. Being played live makes the song a bit more engaging, though it's still not my favourite. Thankfully, it's uphill all the way from there.
There are covers of famous Foo Fighters tracks such as Big Me, Best of You, Times Like These, My Hero and the sublime Everlong which are my favourites. My Hero and Everlong in particular are stand outs. Everlong is one of the bands best songs, but the acoustic version of this song takes it to a new level of intensity. My Hero is a real treat to listen to and Big Me is pared right back to basics giving both songs a whole new lease of life. All of these classics haven't just been re-covered, they've been re-invented.
A number of songs from In Your Honour also make it onto the cd, such as: Friend of a Friend (a song that you can't help but feel was written about Curt Cobain); Marigold, a song Grohl wrote while in Nirvana; Another Round; Over and Out and Cold Day in the Sun. While these songs were originally recorded acoustically on their last album, hearing them played live makes them feel more vibrant and intense than the studio sounds of In Your Honour.
The only negative comment I can make about any of these songs, is that I prefer Taylor Hawkins voice singing Cold Day in the Sun on In Your Honour than Dave singing it live. But that's a small criticism, and listening to Grohl's gravelly voice is hardly a hardship!!
For a rocking band, the Foo Fighters have become remarkably comfortable about showing their softer side. Maybe it's maturity and mellowing out? Maybe it's getting old and not liking loud noise? Who knows? All I know is that is good stuff! This is an album filled with perfect driving tunes.
Rating: 8/10
Album: Skin and Bones
Firstly, I must apologise for taking so bloody long to put up a review! I have so many new cds at home that I've been listening to, and I haven't gotten around to reviewing any of them. But now I'm going to get my ass into gear and do some reviews!
First up is the 6th offering from the Foo Fighters. Before I go any further, I'm going to say straight up that Foo Fighters are my FAVOURITE band in the whole wide world. So this probably isn't the most unbiased review you'll ever hear (I won't hear a bad word about Dave....I just won't!!!).
Dave Grohl is in possession of the best scream in rock music. How he has a voice left I have no idea, but I'm glad he does. Usually that primal scream is howled out alongside thunderous drumbeats and a wall of guitar sounds. But for their 6th album, Skin & Bones, Grohl and Co decided to record a live album of acoustic reworkings of some of their old tunes. They first attempted to show the bands softer side on Disc 2 of their 2006 album In Your Honour. And while I loved In Your Honour overall, their acoustic disc was a little hit and miss. Some of the songs sounded a little too self conscious, as if they weren't quite comfortable with the idea themselves.
With Skin & Bones, the Foo Fighters have gotten a whole lot more comfortable with their acoustic side.
The album starts out with the song Razor, which was taken from In Your Honour and was my least favourite song on the album. Thankfully, this version is better. Being played live makes the song a bit more engaging, though it's still not my favourite. Thankfully, it's uphill all the way from there.
There are covers of famous Foo Fighters tracks such as Big Me, Best of You, Times Like These, My Hero and the sublime Everlong which are my favourites. My Hero and Everlong in particular are stand outs. Everlong is one of the bands best songs, but the acoustic version of this song takes it to a new level of intensity. My Hero is a real treat to listen to and Big Me is pared right back to basics giving both songs a whole new lease of life. All of these classics haven't just been re-covered, they've been re-invented.
A number of songs from In Your Honour also make it onto the cd, such as: Friend of a Friend (a song that you can't help but feel was written about Curt Cobain); Marigold, a song Grohl wrote while in Nirvana; Another Round; Over and Out and Cold Day in the Sun. While these songs were originally recorded acoustically on their last album, hearing them played live makes them feel more vibrant and intense than the studio sounds of In Your Honour.
The only negative comment I can make about any of these songs, is that I prefer Taylor Hawkins voice singing Cold Day in the Sun on In Your Honour than Dave singing it live. But that's a small criticism, and listening to Grohl's gravelly voice is hardly a hardship!!
For a rocking band, the Foo Fighters have become remarkably comfortable about showing their softer side. Maybe it's maturity and mellowing out? Maybe it's getting old and not liking loud noise? Who knows? All I know is that is good stuff! This is an album filled with perfect driving tunes.
Rating: 8/10
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Comment by Cibbuano
Hunt Famous
Orble Post of the Day
Fat Cult
Techbreak
Comment by KylieW
Celebrity Obsession
Did I mention I love Dave??
Comment by Billy M
Comment by KylieW
Celebrity Obsession
That's ok. You don't love Foo Fighters. I don't love Radiohead.....so we're even!!
Maybe we could have a celebrity death match face off between Thom Yorke and Dave Grohl?? That'd be entertaining!
Kylie
Comment by Billy M
Comment by KylieW
Celebrity Obsession
That story alone makes me kinda like em'